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Uganda: Nyakana in Luzira Wetland Row
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New Vision (Kampala)
1 May 2008
Posted to the web 2 May 2008
Gerald Tenywa and Chris Kiwawulo
Kampala
RESIDENTS of Luzira have petitioned the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) over a lease the Kampala Central Division LC3 chief, Godfrey Nyakana, has for a wetland on the shores of Lake Victoria.
"When Nyakana acquired Plot 10 on Peninsular Close in 2004, he forcefully annexed all the catchment area, comprising plots 5 to 8, and fenced it off," Railway Quarters Village residents said in a letter to NEMA.
Residents led by Fred Baguma, a local environmental activist, said Nyakana's action had sparked off disputes with the cultivators, who used to till the land.
They accused Kampala City Council (KCC) of parceling out wetlands to developers without consulting local councils.
"They deal with KCC officials and surveyors at the district level and the local council authorities learn of the new 'ownership' when developers start evicting land users," the petition added.
In most cases, developers who are allocated plots on the dry land, also claim the adjoining wetlands, they noted.
When The New Vision visited the disputed part of the wetland, it was fenced off and part of it had crops.
Nyakana said he bought the wetland from the people, who were accusing him of grabbing their land.
"I bought that land and it does not concern you if I intend to develop it."
Since 2004, Nyakana has been involved in controversies over wetlands.
One of his houses, which was built in the Nakivubo wetland, was demolished by environmental bodies led by NEMA.
In a related development, residents of Railway Quarters, who have been cultivating part of the wetland next to Nyakana's, are complaining that Charles Gashumba, has also fenced off the area.
Gashumba is a retired agricultural economist, who used to work with Bank of Uganda.
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"We complained to NEMA before Gashumba secured a permit but they have not come to our rescue," said Aggrey Rugumayo.
Dr. Festus Bagoora, who is in charge of environmental restoration, confirmed that NEMA had received the two petitions.
"We have marked the borders of the swamp and we are conducting a survey to find out the number of houses in wetlands, their nature and the circumstances under which they were built," Bagoora told The New Vision.
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